Valve structure



Feb. 28, 1928. 1,660,450

J. w. LAWLESS I VALVE STRUCTURE Filed April 27, 2 2 Sheets-Sheet l Illl I llli m" x m. in, hp

1l ll i IN VEN TOR.

m 9 XW A TTORN E Y.

s r-arts ear-ran JOHN W; LAWLESS, OF CAMDEN, NEVT JERSEY.

VALVE srnuorunn.

Application filed April27, 1926. serial no. 104,874.

My invention relates to .valve structures of the typ employed for controlling the flow of water to two ditlerent destination points,

one oil? which may be a bath tub and the other:

of which may be a shower.

The general object ofthe invention 1s to provide a valveot simple and novel construction which is highly efiici'entinoperation and which may be constructed at a minimum of cost. It also is'an object or the inventionto provide valve structure having an improved and novel means for actuating and controlling the positions of the valves with respect to the openings to be opened and-closed thereby.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a valve structure comprising: a pair of inlet openings and a pair of outlet openings and having a novel arrangement of valves for controlling the said inlet and outlet openlngrs and of nieans for supporting and actuatins' the said valves.

r13: these and other ends the invention com preliends the construction as hereinafter described in detail, particularly defined in the is and as illustrated in-the accompanying drawings in which I have shown one form of a convenient mechanical embodiment of the said invention.

However, I desire that it shall be understood that the invention be embodied in other forms of construction than that shown and that changes-inthe details cit-construction may be made within the scope ofthe mums.without departing from the principle of the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 1s a view in valve structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is view in 'centralvertical sect-ion ent positions from what'they are shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal sectlonal View ofa fragmentary portion of thestructut-es onebearing' therefor. frontelevation of a wardly extending flange 5. and a flange 6 which is internally screw-threaded for" engagement with external screw-threads upon the exterior of the outer end portion ofj the casing 1. In order that the plate 4 may be placed in desired position with relation to other parts of the structure I have provided the said plate'at points, preferably in diamctral relation with respect to each other, with inwardly extending lugs -6" which are adapted toertend intothe spaces: between two pairs of lugs 6 which extender project inwardly from-oppositely disposed portions of the casing 1. The closing'plate is pro vided with a central opening 7 within which is rotatably mounted a tubular member 8 provided upon its OllLQl." end with an outwardly extending annular flange 9 and an inwardly extending annular flange 10. The outwardly extending annular flange 9 is adapted to contact with the outer side portion of the closing plate 4 surrounding theopening 7, whcrebythe extent of inward movement of the said tubular member is limited.

A valve controlling shaft 15 extends, through the tubular member 8' and is partly supported upon the flange 10 which consti- The inner end of the shaft. 15 is provided with a reduced extenson 16 which is supported in abear-ing: at 17 formed in a projection 18 providedat the rear side of the casing 2. The shatt15" extends forwardly a considerable distance beyond the closing plate A} and isprovided at its outer end with a handleQO by means" of which it is adapted, to be turned. The

said handle is provided with an extension 21 having an'i'nwardly' extending pointer 22 which is adapted to co-operate with insignia upon the front side'or surface of" a hollow cover or dial plate 23'which conceals thetront portion of the valve structure. The hollow cover ordial plate 23 is provided: with a central "opening Q-within which is mounted afianged sleeve '25 through which ment with the internal screw-threads 26 of a gland 27 which in turn is inscrewthreaded engagement with the interior of a plug 28 which n is provided with exterior threads which are in adjustable engagement with the interior threads 29 upon an annular flange 30 which is integrally or otherwise connected with the closing plate 4. Interposed between the inner end of the gland 27 and the bottom of the plug 28 is annular packing 32.

A collar85 is mounted upon the shaft 15 between the inner end of the plug 28 and the flange 10. The said collar is adapted to be held in place by a binding screw 86. The

' said collar is providedwith a projection 37 "inner end with a curved camslot 50 which. extends around the greater portion thereof.

which is located between and spaced from projections 89 and 40 which are mounted upon and extend outwardly from the outer front end of the tubular member 8. purpose of spacing these projections in the manner as indicated in Fig. 4: of the drawings will be set forth hereinafter.

In order that the dial plate 23 may be set in the desired relation with respect to other parts of the structure the said plate is prov vided upon its inner side with a ring from which slotted projections 46 extend inwardly. The flange 30, previously referred to, is provided with outwardly extending radial projections l? which extend into the said slot-s, whereby the said dial plate may be accurately located in the desired relative position. V i

It will be understood that by adjusting the parts 25, 27, 28 and 80 with relationto. eachother the length of the structure coinposed of these parts may be varied so as to adapt the device to be mounted in and upon walls or" difierent thicknesses. Cover or cial plates 23 of difierent heights or depths may be employed to meet different conditions as to wall thickness as they may arise.

The tubular member 8 is provided upon its The central point or portion of the said cam slotis the highest portion; that is to say, it is that portion which is farthest away from the front end of the said member. The portions of the said cam slot upon opposite sides of the middle point thereof extend around the tubular member 8 and toward the front end thereof, as is clearly shown in the drawings, The cam slot 50 is provided at its middle upon its concaveside with a notch or depression 50 upon the shaft 15 within the casing 1. The front end portion of the sleeve extends into therear end of the tubular member 8. The said sleeve is provided with a stud 52 which extends through the cam slot 50, previously The A sleeve51 is mounted referred to. The said stud is provided with a roller 53 which engages the side walls of thesaid slot. The. sleeve 51 is provided at itsrear end with a circular flange 55 provided with projections '56 in diametrical relation with respect to each other. These projections are provided with openings 57 and 58 within which the stems 59 and 60 of valves 61 and 62 are mounted. Shoulders separate the stems 59 and 60 from the valves 61 and 62. Mounted upon the said stems and in contact with the said shoulders are washers 6 3 and 64;. Mounted upon each of the stems 59 and 60 are additional washers 65 and 66, the latter of which are of spring type, as shown. The presence of the spring washers 66 causes the roller 53 on the stud 52 to seat in the notch 50 when the valves for the inlet openings are in closed position. The seating of the roller-53 in the notch '50 prevents accidental movement of the member 8 to cause accidentalopening of the said inlet opening valves. 'Nuts70. and 71 upon the out-er ends of the stems ofthe said valves operate to secure and hold the said valves upon the projections 56,-previously referred to. When the stud 52 occupies a position at the middle point of the cam slot 50 the valves areheld with the washers 63 and 64: in contact with the inner ends of the walls of the cold and hot water inlet openings 7 2 and 7 3. In such position the said openings are closed so that no water from either the cold water source or the hot water source is permitted to enter the interior of the valve structure.

lUU

The handle 20 is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 a collar 86 which is rigidly'or fixedly secured to the inner end portion of the shaft 15. ings. 84.- by means of nuts 87. Coiled springs 90 are mounted upon the studs 83 inter mediate the plate and the valve 82. These springs tendtoexpand and operate to hold the valve 82 outwardly and in spaced relation with respect to the plate 85. It'will be seen, therefore, that the valve 82 is adapted to have yieldingcontact with the inner or. front ends of the outlets 80 and 81. outlet 80 is connected with a conduit which leads to a shower, While the outlet 81 is connected with a conduit which leads to a tub.

While I have shown the inner or front ends of the outlets 80 and 81 as located at.

the rear end or rear side of the casing it will be understood that the inner ends of.

The studs 83 are retained in the open- 1 The that the-positionof the valve may beliliewise altered so as tocooperate with the-out let openings. It is, however, necessary andessential. that the valve 82 be mounted upon a rotatable part of the valve construction. It may be noted that the valve 82 is of such shape that both of the outlet openings and 81 cannot be closed simultaneously, or at the same time. Only one of the said openings at a timemay be closed.

Instead of the springs for yieldinglyholding, the valve 82 in contact with thefront ends, ofthe walls of the outlet ope-1% ings SO and 81 I may employ .a compressible yielding member 91 of rubber or the like assho-wn in Fig. 7. the construction as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings is identical with that illus trated in other figures of the drawings.

It'will be noted that therear portions of the valve elements-61 and 62' are of spiral structure. The rear end of the valve element 61 terminates-in a portion 92 which cylindrical except for a shallow depressioi'i at 93. YVhen the valves and 2 havebeen opened to their fullest extent the rearward portion 92' ofthe valve (El-enters tie rear end of the inlet opening 72 to close the same, except for the shallow depression 92,

previously referred to, with the result that i the amount of cold water which is admitted into the valve casing 1s greatly reduced; At such time, however, the valve element 62 permits the maXiniui-namount'of hot water to enter the said valve casing. If the handle 20 shall have'been turnedin a direction to carry the pointer-22 toward that portion of the cover or dial plateinarkedshower,

the valve 82 will atthe same-timebe moved direction the valve 61 is first opened to permit the entry of coldwater-into the casing 1. Movement of'the valve 62 is at the same time effected, but interposed between the washer ca and the rear spiral portion of the valve element 62 is a cylindrical section 94 which is mounted within the inlet opening 73, so that the said opening is not opened until the valve 62 .has moved forwardly a sulficient distance to remove the cylindrical section 94 fromthe said opening. In the meantime cold water has been permitted to enter the casing. It will be seen, therefore, that it is not until after there has been considerable flow of cold Water into the casing that the hot water is permitted to enter the same. It will be understood, therefore, that initially cold water only is discharged from the outlet opening leading either to a shower'or to a bath tub and that thereafter the entry of the hot water is permitted.

In every other respect I Asthe handle 20 approaches the limit of" its movement in either direction from. the-- normal position, as shownin Fig, 1,...th e. amount of cold water admitted to: the valvecasing decreases, until finally, only a: very small portion of cold water permitted to.

enter. If desired, the rear end: portion 920 ative position. v

By reason of the lost motion. or. playzbe tween the ro ection: 37 and the to 'cctions. i

r J P l 39 and 40. the valve 82 which mounted:tav

shaft 15 is caused to move to open oneof' the. outlet openingsandclose theother of: said; openings before. the opening of. either of the hot vor cold water inlet openings It will be seen'that by: my invention.

rotate in synchronismwith the Vvalveicontrol;

have provided an extremely simple-sand efhcient valve construction including. means whereby a plurality of valves may be simultaneously actuated and controlledfor con trolling the ingress and egress OfWELlLGr into Y and from the casing oflthe structure;v

Having thus described invention, what.

I claim and desire to secure by. Letters:

Patent is:

1. valve structure'of the character de scribed comprising inlet and outlet openings-,,. a rotatable valvecontrol shaft, azvalvesupported on said'ushaft for opening. and. closing the inlet openings and a valvealsonsupported; on said shaft'for opening and'closing: the outlet openings; means mountedaon said. shaft: to cause rectilinear operative movementsbf the said firstenamed" valve. upon-.- rotation. of

said shaft'andi to cause rot'ativemovement.

of the second-named valve to close either ofi the outlet'openings and to open the other as desired. 1 i

2. A valve structure oflt'hechar'acter dee, scribedfcomprising, in combination, a valvecasing having inlet and'outlet openings, a valve control shaft, a, rotatably mounted tubular member through which said shaft extends, said member being provided with a curved transversely extending cam slot, a

sleeve slidably mounted upon the said control shaft, said sleeve having a projection extending into the said cam slot whereby upon rotation of the said tubular member the said sleeve is caused to slide upon the said shaft, valves for controlling the said inlet openings, means, for supporting said valves on said sleeve, a valve for opening and clos ing the said outlet openings, and means for causing rotation of said valve simultaneously and in unison with the rotation of the said tubular member.

3. A valve structure ofthe character decasing having inlet and outlet openings and also having an opening in the front side thereof, a rotatable tubular member mounted within said last-mentioned opening, said member having a curved transversely extending cam sloti therein, the convex edge of the said cam slot facing toward the interior of the valve structure, a rotatable valve by upon rotation of the said tubular member in one direction or the other rectilinear movements of the said valves in one direction or the other to close or open the said inlet openings are effected, and a valve for opening and closing the said outlet valve control shaft.

4i.v A valve structure of the character described comprisingin combination a v e casing having inlet and outlet openin s, valves foi controlling the inlet openings, :1

valve for controlling the outlet PIPE-Ding a movable member common to all of said valves for actuating the same, the said last mentioned valve being movahle with said member, and lost motion means linte posed between said member and the mixes for controlling the inlet openings whereby the said last mentioned valve is adapted to be operated to open one of the said outlet openings and to close the other before the suit valves for controlling the inlet openings are moved into position to open the said inlet openings. V

5. A valve structure of the character descrieed comprising, in combination, avalve easing having inlet and outlet openings and also having an opening inthe front side there of, a tubular member mounted in said last mentioned'opening, said member being provided with a curved cam slot extending transversely thereof, the portions ofsaid slot upon opposite sides of theimiddle'thereof said cam slot whereopenings, the v a 's- -I I l i i said valve rotatlng in unascnwuh cries-aid extending toward the. front end of the said earn, a valve operating shaft extending valves are slidahly supported upon the "said shaft, means interposed between the said shaft and the said tubular member for effecting rotation of the latter upon rotation of the said shaft, means having connection with the said valves and having gement with the said cam slot whereby upon rotation of the said tubular member slidahle movement of the said 7 valves to the said shaft is effected, and means mounted upon thesaid shaft for controlling the outlet openings.

6. A valve structure of the character described comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings and also having an opening extending through the front side thereof, a tubular member tubular member being provided with a curved cam slot the portions thereof upon opposite sides of its middle extending toward the front end of said tubular member, a rotatable valve control shaft, means inter pose between said shaft and the ,said rotatahle tubular mcnibenwhereby upon rotation of said shaft rotation of said tubular meniber may be effected, a sleeve slidahly mounted on said shaft the front end of such sleeve extending into the said tubular meinherand being provided with a projection which on tends into the said cam slot whereby upon rotation of the said tubular member slidable;

rotatin therewith to control the outlet open- 7 with relation V m mounted in said last-named opening, said til) 

